Europaweite Videoüberwachung an Schlachthöfen und Dokumentation

This petition is addressed to the
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
EUROPEAN INTERGROUP FOR ANIMALS
all in Brussels, Belgium

We demand the EU Commission submits a legislative proposal for mandatory CCTV in all areas concerned with the handling and slaughter of animals in all EU abattoirs.

BACKGROUND
Right now hundreds of millions of animals in Europe are at risk of avoidable suffering brutality in abattoirs across Europe.

Piece-work, low-wages, defective equipment and as little as 5 seconds to slaughter animals all contribute to avoidable suffering. There are also staff who exert additional cruelty.

On the request of the Swedish Minister of Rural affairs, Eskil Erlandsson, the EU Commission confirmed in May 2011 that within individual EU countries up to 75 per cent of the animals are slaughtered improperly or not at all stunned. Alive and fully conscious they may be scalded, have their throats cut, be cut up by machines or bleed to death, hanging from a hook.

While animals suffer unnecessarily, slaughterhouse workers are also put at risk. There are a significant number of serious and fatal accidents in slaughterhouses, plus reported thefts of firearms - all of which could be reduced by the use of CCTV.

EU consumers unwittingly and unwillingly are forced to support this system of highly subsidised, low-cost meat production which subjects animals to a horrific death and puts staff unnecessarily at risk. THIS MUST END.

We demand for the whole of the European Union:

- Mandatory CCTV in all areas connected with slaughter and handling for slaughter.

- Unannounced checks that this is in effect.

- Footage being made available to agreed independent monitors.

- Mandatory prosecution for all offences.

- The placing of enforcement under the control of a national administrative body able to enforce animal protection laws regardless of local circumstances.